Album Notes

There's a reprehensible plague in the Rhythm and Blues industry. It's a virus that poisons authenticity in most genres, and has threatened the health of music for centuries. The culprit - singers who rely on ghostwriters, and the answer - talents like Bello whose repertoires span from the pen to the stage.

While some artists camp out on lines at reality shows seeking shortcuts to success, Bello writes and records. In his fifth year of a SONY publishing contract, he's paid bills and dues by outsourcing talent. But just like history's flickering stars who have waited to emerge from behind creative curtains, Bello saved the gems for himself. The Project is a testament to how his longitudinal vision unfolded, both musically and emotionally.

So what's the big deal? For those impressed by celebrity cameos, Bello's producers have also laced Ice Cube, LFO, Jay-Z and The Backstreet Boys. On stage, he's both mature and experienced, having opened for 112 and been well received at Harlem's Apollo Theater - a feat for any Beantown whiteboy. In Boston, he's serenaded dozens of audiences as a solo artist and as a member of his organic four-man soul outfit.

The Bello Project infuses inspiration from Motown to H-Town, but steers clear of contemporary artificial pop. The album rocks the full spectrum, with dancefloor ringers eclectically shouldered up to acoustic ballads and rhythmic fascination. And though it isn't intentionally concept-driven, The Project tells a vivid story - the story of an R&B singer nurtured in thick rhythm and blues tradition.